Touch aotearoa NZ workshops
An Interactive workshop that addresses 5
sustainable developmental goals
Welcome to our Eco Fest Touch Aotearoa NZ workshop!
The Touch Aotearoa New Zealand project’s central kaupapa is to bring sustainability and wellbeing to New Zealand in a way that inspires our communities to take action. Actions can be large or small because every action makes a difference.
The artistic aim of this project is to share the powerful way art can contribute to individuals, organisations and community’s wellbeing.
How did the idea develop?
The Sustainable Development Goals formulated by the United Nations are aspirational goals for humanity. Starting working on them, I was fortunate to receive a grant from Creative New Zealand to launch my first project, the 'Please Do Touch' installation in Paris and Montenegro.
More information here about the Paris launch and the invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a solo exhibition to represent New Zealand at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The workshop Host
Yaniv Janson, a young artist from West Coast Raglan, New Zealand has a great passion for environmental and social issues which he reflects in his art work. Yaniv lives with both epilepsy and autism, however this does not stop him from developing his 17 years career as an artist. Yaniv loves painting art that can be shared across the world.
Yaniv has been awarded over 18 awards, participating in more than 40 exhibitions and has sold about 200 paintings.
The workshop experiential resource book
The Touch the World workbook was co-created in collaboration with educators and social scientists. The resource aims to educate communities on environmental and social sustainability while empowering them to become confident in themselves and responsible stewards of the earth. This resource uses art and guided reflection to communicate these messages.
The workbook includes a number of digitised drawings of Yaniv’s paintings for the reader to colour or paint, along with ‘taking action’ pages that prompt the reader to write about what actions they will work to take toward each relevant sustainable development goal.
Using the resource, people draw on a range of creative channels to formulate new ideas based on their personal stories.
The workshop
‘These workshops have been created with the purpose of increasing awareness about 5 Sustainable Development Goals and create impetus for action around them. The workshops promote creativity, wellbeing and fun. They ask its audience to consider 1 question per goal: 'what actions could you take that would make even a small difference to achieving this goal’
The workshop is divided into 3 parts.
This is shown in the photos below. Workshops last between 2 to 4 hours, depending on the organisation's aims.
personal space
Participants practice mindful colouring and relax, whilst thinking about a Sustainable Development Goal. Research about mindful colouring has shown its power!
small group space
In small groups, they discuss new ideas that come up during mindfulness break. Research has shown that mindfulness enhances creativity... and our participants confirm this!
team space
Each participant presents a project idea about a goal of their choice - and all contribute in a speed-dating format. This is a fun team building cap to the workshop.
Sneak peek - example activities in the book
Pages to jot ideas down
Colouring in pages
Call to Action
Artwork to catalyse thinking
Observe the artwork and think about the significance of the images
Reflect on the artist view and analysis
Brainstorm on actions that one could take about a sustainable goal
Create a drawing, glue in image(s) that represent the issue and potential solutions
Colour-in - as a mindfulness practice
Summarise thoughts and choose one action that one could commit to to alleviate the goal topic
These activities can be done individually or in a family/group - either way, with the range of possible activities on offer, one is bound to think about even one small step in the right direction. Using the workbook is a great starting point to reflect, plan and make your first step to contribute to a goal.
When will you start?
Kia ora koutou,
We have an exciting opportunity to for you to be inspired to take action for a sustainable world through art. Collaborating with contemporary fine artist Yaniv Janson, Auckland Council Sustainable Schools and the NZ Maritime Museum, we bring you the Touch Aotearoa workshop.
During the Touch Aotearoa workshop, participants will get to stretch their creativity, and practice mindfulness to learn, reflect on and discuss the changes that can be made to help our planet improve and support positive action for our changing climate. Focusing on five of the UN's Sustainable Development goals you will delve into water, land, climate, and sustainable communities.
Participants will receive a beautiful workbook that they can use as their journal to continue reflecting and creating at home, and to inspire others.
Location- NZ Maritime Museum, Corner Quay and Hobson streets, Viaduct Harbour
Workshops - are limited to 12 participants so please register early to avoid disappointment.
Dates – Register for either the Wednesday 20 March or Thursday 21 March
Time – 3:30 - 5:30pm
Who – All ages welcome however we recommend ages 8 and up. Children must be supervised at all times.
Yaniv is a young New Zealand artist from the small coastal town of Raglan who began painting at the age of 15. He has received over 18 awards, participated in more than 40 exhibitions and sold over 200 paintings. In 2017, he created a collection of paintings inspired by the UN’s Sustainable Development goals, which travelled to Paris and then New York to represent New Zealand at the United Nations. A selection of these artworks is on display in the NZ Maritime Museum plaza.
Learn more about the workshop and the artist.
This workshop is proudly funded by the Waitematā Local Board.
Ngā mihi nui.
Hazel Meadows
Sustainable Schools Advisor, Environmental Services
This page short url: tinyurl.com/ecofest-yanivjanson